The world of Tuner

Worry not! These questions have answers. Born of digital influences and raised with real-world sensibilities, Tuner is a surprise treat, a shapeshifter, an actor capable of wearing multiple masks and playing to many moods. Tuner is a family packed with potential and opportunity that other sans types out there can’t seem to harness. Why is this? What is this? And why can’t I stop looking at it?

Even at first glance, it’s hard to miss Tuner’s most defining design note — the pointed apexes of the A, W, V, w, and v. This feature is a result of Tuner’s origin story: Designer Simon Renaud developed Tuner as a distillation of the variations of bitmapped lettering styles present in archaic monitors and crude transit displays. Superimposing all of the forms, Renaud was able to capture a potent digital feeling into a contemporary set of glyphs. These apexes lie at the heart of Tuner’s originality, personality, and what makes it a standout choice in a sea of other contemporary digitally influenced sans types.”

The second iconic feature of Tuner is the way it appears as a monospaced typeface without actually being one. What is it that gives Tuner this stance? It’s in the proportions of the letterforms and the generous spacing on the reading line. This is perfectly exemplified in the lowercase m. Its condensed proportions are speaking the language of monospace. It’s an optical illusion, a typographic magic trick, a misdirection of the finest degree.

Brands are no longer beholden to rigid expectations of professionalism and neutrality. They are seeking to project a complex and nuanced suite of values, emotions, and strategies. Tuner’s ability to wear multiple masks comes in handy to address this very need. Building a brand that’s clean and classy? Tuner’s classic structure delivers a trustworthy and experienced style. Have a young brand ready to make some waves in the industry? Capitalize on Tuner’s subversive and unexpected angular characters bursting with a twist of fresh energy.

Tuner is clearly born into a digital generation, but it does it in a subtle and sneaky way. This means that Tuner is just as much at home in the game room, the chat room, and the board room. Set tuner in a strong, bolder weight at a medium size for an impactful H3 or H4 subhead. You can deploy Tuner in all caps at a small size to send out old-school computer vibes. Or, you can make use of Tuner’s sneaky monospaced-feeling sleight of hand to show off a code-based fluency in a more natural-feeling way.

Even though Tuner may initially present as a hard edged sans, there are no shortage of ways to exhibit Tuner’s softer side. The lighter weights especially showcase masterfully handled curves and joins that bring subtlety and care to the page or screen at any size. Make use of Tuner’s open counterforms, curved forms of traditionally angular characters like the y, t, and a. And don’t forget about the italics! Designed at a generous 13° angle, Tuner’s fast italics take the edge off while keeping the energy level up.

Since its DNA is extracted from a process of low-res-turned-high-res structures, Tuner brings an aesthetic edge and eye-catching glimmer to a range of deployment sizes. Use it big for a crisp, contemporary setting with gravitas. Or, use it in smaller ways in captions and text sizes for a tech-ified authority with warmth and personality. Either way, clarity reigns.

So, what is it about Tuner that compels us to intrigue? Ultimately, the Joy of Tuner is in its ability to show up in so many different ways. Tuner feels like the designer’s type—the kind of typeface that every designer should have in their back pocket, ready to call upon when the other options just aren’t working. It's techy and digital, but also modern and nuanced. It’s neutral but moody, restrained yet free. It's evocative of designs of other eras while embodying a feeling of timelessness. As a tool it's hard to turn down, delivering a clean sans function with a monospaced feel. Tuner is a hidden gem waiting to be unearthed — a task made easier in the hands of a designer ready to make some noise and leave a memorable mark.

To discover more about the story of Tuner and its design origins, explore the mini site. →